UNV Community liaison

Mission and objectivesThe Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

ContextThis United Nations Volunteer (UNV) assignment as a Community Liaison is part of UNHCR’s community-based protection team. The incumbent contributes primarily to UNHCR programs covering various areas of intervention in collaboration with partners, in multiple locations, Oujda, Fès, Tanger, Rabat Casablanca, Marrakech and Agadir. The Community Liaison (CL) works directly in the field and will be based at one of the UNHCR's partners (AMAPPE, AMPF, FOO, OMDH, ProgettoMondo) on a part-time basis to: • Inform and refer refugees and asylum-seekers to services provided by UNHCR, its partners, and state institutions; • Facilitate awareness-raising and information activities within refugee and asylum-seeker communities; • Conduct field visits for outreach, identification, and follow-up, reporting issues and sharing information collected within the community with partners; • Participate in awareness campaigns, mass communication, and information sessions organized by UNHCR, its partners, or state institutions. The CL is also responsible for submitting regular activity reports. These responsibilities are defined and adjusted in accordance with the Terms of Reference (TOR) approved by UNHCR and its partners.

Task DescriptionWithin the delegated authority and under the supervision of UNHCR and Designated field partner or mandated representative(s), the UNV Community Liaison will: • Identify the most vulnerable cases without community support among community members, refer, guide, and accompany them if needed; • Identify all children at risk (GBV survivors, out-of-school children, girls at risk of exploitation and trafficking, unaccompanied minors, children dropping out of school, street children) and make an urgent referral to child protection focal points. For education-related cases, refer to education focal points, and if other risks are present, copy the child protection focal point; Identify and refer survivors of gender-based violence and victims of trafficking to GBV focal points; • Identify, inform, and refer refugees and asylum seekers in need of UNHCR documents or who are following their procedures. These referrals should be made to the UNHCR DSR/documentation focal point, copying the partner focal point; • Identify, inform, and refer refugees in need of BRA cards or who are following their procedures. These referrals should be made to the UNHCR BRA focal point, copying the partner focal point; • Ensure referral and accompaniment of cases handled by partners and state structures if they do not benefit from family or community support; otherwise, involve the family and community after providing them with the necessary and useful information, with the informed consent of the service beneficiary. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs: As an active member of the UNHCR team and its partners, provide effective, timely, responsive, client-oriented, and high-quality support to UNHCR and its persons of concern in fulfilling its functions, including: (Results/products may be adjusted as needed; they should not fully reproduce the job description but serve as a basis for the work plan and deliverables) • The incumbent is expected to maintain an average presence of 20 hours per week, equivalent to a half-day per day. • These information and awareness-raising interventions are implemented in accordance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies, including those related to Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) integration. • Persons of concern have equitable access to UNHCR services and support. • Persons of concern are treated with dignity, respect, and professionalism. • An Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) approach is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements in volunteering for peace and development during the assignment, such as a report on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and skills developed.

Competencies and values• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarksMorocco offers a generally safe environment, with a notable decrease in violent crime and strengthened security measures, although vigilance is still recommended in tourist and urban areas. The climate varies by region: Mediterranean along the coast with mild winters and warm but moderate summers, continental inland with greater temperature variations, and desert in the south with extreme heat. Living conditions are generally comfortable for expatriates: a moderate cost of living compared to Europe, affordable housing, reliable medical infrastructure in major cities, and easy access to banking services and modern telecommunications. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. Entitlements of a Community UN Volunteer serving on a part-time basis: - Entry lump sum: equivalent in MAD of 50 USD - Volunteer leaving allowance: 2635,85 MAD - Learning: Access to UNV's learning and career development resources - Annual leave: 2,5 days per month - Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for health, life and malicious acts for the UN Volunteer